Criminal Defense and Civil Forfeiture Blog

Published on: November 29, 2019

Farm Service Agency Executive Director Duane Edward Crawson and 28 Others Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Theft of Government Funds

29 current and former federal, state, and local officials were indicted by a federal grand jury in Tallahassee, FL, last week for allegedly actively working to defraud the government and taxpayers of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The scheme was allegedly orchestrated by a County Executive Director of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, who is accused of stealing federal drought assistance funds and covering up his actions through identity theft, tax evasion, and other federal crimes with a criminal network of almost 30 people.

Published on: November 25, 2019

Michael Jerome Atkins of Fort Lauderdale, FL, Faces Charges for Defrauding Woman’s Retirement Savings

by Brian Silber

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida has announced that Michael Jerome Atkins was arraigned on November 21 for allegedly defrauding a senior citizen out of her retirement savings.

Atkins, 60, was charged with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. The press did not say if he has acquired the services of an attorney.

Published on: November 22, 2019

David John Ridling of Vero Beach, FL, Faces Bank Fraud Charges for Alleged Involvement in $50 Million Fraud Scheme

by Brian Silber

David John Ridling of Vero Beach, FL, was indicted this month for his alleged connection to a scheme to defraud multiple banks, a financial services provider, and a business out of more than $50 million.

Ridling, 57, was charged with 10 counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, nine counts of money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. It is unclear if he has acquired the services of an attorney.

Published on: November 18, 2019

Anthony Ray Robbins of West Palm Beach, FL, Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

by Brian Silber

Police in Palm Beach County arrested a 41-year-old man last week after they allegedly found multiple child pornography files on his computer.

Anthony Ray Robbins of West Palm Beach was charged with possession of sexual performance of a child and promoting sexual performance of a child. He is being held at the Palm Beach County Jail on $40,000 bail. Attorney information wasn’t available.

Published on: November 14, 2019

Florida Power & Light Worker Electrocuted at Construction Site in Hallandale Beach, FL

by Brian Silber

Authorities report that a Florida Power & Light (FLP) worker was electrocuted at a construction site in Hallandale Beach on Friday morning.

According to Hallandale Beach police, the incident occurred just before 7:30 a.m. on November 15 at a construction site on North Federal Highway and Pembroke Road, near the Big Easy Casino. A 41-year-old FLP worker was working on a power line when he was electrocuted. The worker’s name has not yet been released to the public.